The Arts-Based Community Engagement (ABCE) Model in Practice: A Demonstrated Tool for Revenue Generation and Community Support in the Arts

Abstract

This article examines the alignment between Out of Hand Theater’s operations and Song’s (2019) Arts-Based Community Engagement (ABCE) model. Using a participatory case study method, the research explores how Out of Hand Theater’s operations align with and diverge from Song’s ABCE model. This study fills a gap in scholarship by taking this theoretical model and examining it with an empirical example. In 2018, Out of Hand Theater shifted their operational model to exclusively produce programs focused on social issues in collaboration with community partners. The study’s findings broadly indicate that Out of Hand Theater’s core programming since 2018 closely aligns with Song’s ABCE model and has resulted in greater financial stability. This research contributes to understanding of an alternative operational model that has remained untested in practice.